CBS All Access’s The Good Fight picks up one year after the finale of The Good Wife, and it wastes no time getting to the point. A massive financial scam has ruined the reputation of young lawyer Maia Rindell and wiped out the savings of her mentor and godmother, Diane Lockhart. Both are forced out of their old firm and join Lucca Quinn at one of Chicago’s most respected law practices. That setup carries the whole series, and it never lets up.
Trailer, via W Network.
The Setup That Carries the Show
The scam drives the first season’s central conflict. Diane loses her job and her money, while Maia faces the FBI over her father’s Ponzi scheme. Their partnership at the new firm is fragile from the start, and the show uses that tension to build its political commentary. It is a slow-burn engine, and it works.
Diane Lockhart at the Center
Christine Baranski plays Diane with the same sharp intelligence that made her a standout in The Good Wife. Here she is older, more uncertain, and harder hit by the world around her. She loses everything and still holds her ground, which makes her the heart of the show. Her scenes with Maia are the best in the season, a mentor-student relationship that carries genuine weight.
Maia’s Double Trouble
Maia Rindell, played by Rose Leslie, arrives fresh from passing the bar and finds herself in over her head. She is smart, anxious, and constantly under pressure from the FBI. Leslie sells the fear without ever losing the character’s dignity, and her arc runs through the season as she tries to rebuild her career while hiding from the people chasing her.
Lucca Quinn’s Rise
Lucca Quinn, played by Cush Jumbo, is the glue holding the firm together. She balances her dedication to her work with a romantic entanglement with US Attorney Colin Morello, a frequent opposing counsel. Jumbo plays her with warmth and control, and her scenes with Baranski are some of the sharpest in the series.
The Firm’s New Cases
The firm takes on Illinois police brutality cases, which gives the show a chance to explore its political themes. The show’s commentary is front and center from the start, touching on the alt-right, the MeToo movement, online harassment, and fake news. It is heavy lifting, but the show never lets its arguments overwhelm the storytelling.
The Supporting Cast
The supporting cast is deep. Sarah Steele returns as Marissa Gold, now the firm’s private investigator. Nyambi Nyambi plays Jay Dipersia, Michael Boatman plays Julius Cain, Charmaine Bingwa plays Carmen Moyo, and Andre Braugher plays Ri’Chard Lane. The ensemble holds together across six seasons, with each actor finding room to grow within the show’s tight focus.
John Slattery appears as Lyle Bettencourt, and the recurring roles of Paul Guilfoyle and Bernadette Peters add texture to Maia’s family background. Their scenes are brief but pointed, giving the show a personal anchor alongside its political ones.
The Political Weight
The show’s biggest strength is also its biggest risk. Its commentary on Trump-era politics and the actions of his administration can feel heavy-handed, especially in later seasons. But the first season stays grounded in its characters, and the commentary serves the story rather than drowning it.
Key Facts
- Premiere: February 19, 2017
- Network: CBS All Access, later Paramount+
- Creator: Michelle King, Robert King, Phil Alden Robinson
- Seasons: 6, ending November 10, 2022
- Score: 9.8/10
Our Verdict
The Good Fight is a strong start to a long-running series. The first season sets up its characters and its themes with confidence, and the performances carry the weight of the show’s political ambitions. Baranski, Leslie, and Jumbo lead a cast that delivers consistent, often excellent work. The commentary can be blunt, but the storytelling stays focused on the people involved. This is a show built to last, and the first season proves it.
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